SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE MUSICAL

I was expecting a re-run of the 1977 movie starring John Travolta, along with a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with a replay of the toe-tapping Bee Gee hits I had learned to love in my late 20’s.  Unfortunately, I found myself wanting to leave by intermission but ultimately decided to stick it out hoping the second half would be better. I don’t often give mediocre ratings but for this musical production last evening at the Craterian Theatre in Medford, Oregon I can only muster 5 out of 10 on my approval barometer.  

Despite the luke-warm vocal talent, well done backdrops and sets transport one from the graffiti covered streets and bridges of downtown Brooklyn in the 1970’s to the high energy, eye stimulating colors of the popular 2001 Odyssey disco. Transitions from set to set were handled quickly, quietly and with great precision. 

Even though this musical has been rewritten it still comes across as dark and gritty and I would not recommend this production for youth.  The theme of macho posturing combined with economic depression fuels drug abuse, gang rape, racial injustice, physical and verbal abuse and takes a look at life through the eyes of 19-year old Tony Manero, played by Matthew Baker. Living at home with an unemployed dad, an overly zealous religious mom and working a dead-end job at a local paint store, the only uplifting and gratifying thing in Tony’s life is dancing.   After meeting Stephanie, played by Danielle Marie Gonzales, they begin training for a dance contest which inspires hope and a new way of life for Tony.  

This 2.5 hour musical certainly contained some good segments and was broken into 2 acts with a 15 minute intermission.  Act I contained some of my very favorites including “Stayin’ Alive”, “Boogie Shoes”, “Disco Inferno”, “How Deep is Your Love”, “Jive Talkin’”, “If I Can’t Have You”, “Night Fever” and “You Should be Dancing”.  My critique has more to do with music tempo and vocal presentation.  For example – I felt “Jive Talkin’” tempo was too slow and the vocals of the 4 gang friends of Tony, Bobby, Joey, Double J and Gus, were not of the quality I had expected. 

Act II presented “Nights on Broadway”, “What Kind of Fool”, “Stuck”, “Open Sesame”, “More Than a Woman”, “Tragedy” and “Top of Your Game”.  A tragic death toward the end of the show would normally leave you feeling depressed but after bows are taken, the mood quickly switches to an energetic encore of singing, hand clapping and dancing and will definitely leave you with a smile on my face.  

For the complete theatrical history of this production, click here.